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Introduction Awareness of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women and the potential risk for infection of their neonates is increasing. The aim of this study was to examine the immune status of affected women and evaluate the dynamics of placental antibody transfer. Materials and Methods The study included 176 women with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy who delivered between April 2020 and December 2021 at eight obstetric maternity sites. Demographic data, maternal and neonatal characteristics were summarized. Antibody testing for IgA and IgG in maternal blood sera and umbilical cord samples was evaluated and IgG transfer ratios were calculated. Values were related to the time of infection during pregnancy and birth. Results The percentage of IgG positive women increased from 29.0% (95% CI 23.8 – 37.8) at presentation with a positive PCR test result to 75.7% (95% CI 71.6 – 79.8), the percentage of IgG positive umbilical cord blood samples increased from 17.1% (95% CI 13.0 – 21.3) to 76.4% (95% CI 72.2 – 80.7) at more than six weeks after infection. Regression lines differed significantly between maternal and fetal IgG responses (p < 0.0001). Newborns react with a latency of about one week; umbilical cord blood antibody concentrations are highly correlated with maternal concentration levels (ρ = 0.8042; p < 0.0001). IgG transplacental transfer ratios were dependent on infection-to-birth interval. Two of the umbilical cord blood samples tested positive for IgA. Conclusions These findings confirm vertical SARS-CoV-2 transmission is rare; however, antibodies are transferred to the fetus soon after infection during pregnancy. Since transplacental antibody transfer might have a protective value for neonatal immunization this information may be helpful when counseling affected women.

Introduction Even though teenage pregnancy rates have been declining in the last decades, their global prevalence is still high and shows country-specific discrepancies. Insufficient sexual education, poor availability of contraceptives and early marriage are some of the multifactorial causes for adolescent pregnancies. Very often teenage pregnancies are classified as high-risk pregnancies. Studies have found higher rates of peripartal complications, such as preterm birth, low birth weight or low fetal Apgar-Scores. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to evaluate the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in Austria and to identify principal differences in maternal and neonatal outcome. Material and methods Data were collected from the Austrian Birth Registry between 01/2012 and 12/2020. A total of 751661 deliveries in Austria were documented. Obstetric, maternal and neonatal parameters were descriptively analyzed. Mothers were subclassified into two age groups: teenage mothers of 19 years and younger and adult mothers of 20 to 39 years of age. Results Newborns of teenage mothers were significantly smaller (49.98 ± 3.11 vs. 50.31 ± 3.16 cm, p < 0.001) and had a lower birth weight (3216 ± 564 vs. 3247 ± 576 g, p < 0.001) than newborns of adult mothers. The percentage of caesarean deliveries in the teenage group was significantly lower than in adult mothers (21.1 vs. 31.8%, p < 0.001). Newborns of teenage mothers had significantly higher rates of very low (< 4) and low (< 7) 5-minute Apgar scores (5-minute Apgar < 4: 0.75 vs. 0.54%, p = 0.004) (5-minute Apgar < 7: 1.77 vs. 1.37%, p = 0.001) and significantly lower arterial umbilical-cord pH (7.25 ± 0.08 vs. 7.26 ± 0.08, p < 0.001). Perinatal mortality was higher in the age group below 20 years (0.7 vs. 0.6%, p = 0.043). Conclusion The data of this study show significantly poorer outcomes in pregnancies of teenagers compared to adult women, even though the healthcare system in Austria is considered excellent. Future guideline recommendations should focus on important aspects of obstetric care in teenage mothers.

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